Does type 3 collagen support joints as well as type 2?Updated 22 days ago

Native type 2 collagen is the most studied type of collagen for joint support. This is mainly because type 2 collagen is a major component of joint cartilage, so it makes sense that adding a similar substrate could help support these areas of the body.

It's worth noting that the research here has mostly looked at native collagen, not hydrolysed. A common source of native type 2 collagen is chicken, or chicken broth. A 2009 study found that native type 2 collagen can trigger an immune response called oral tolerance, which may help reduce autoimmune reactions against the body's own collagen at the joint cartilage level, for example in Rheumatoid Arthritis. This works through dendritic cells (DCs) in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), which take up the type 2 collagen and present it to T cells. This creates regulatory T cells, which build the body's tolerance to its own type 2 collagen, and this may help prevent the joints from breaking down.

Hydrolysed collagen hasn't been shown to work in this same way, though. If you want this specific effect, we recommend making and drinking regular meat stocks using gelatinous parts of chicken, such as chicken feet.

Type 3 collagen is also thought to potentially benefit joints, because it's expressed by osteoblasts in mature bone too. Type 1 collagen is found in bones and tendons as well, which is why we recommend Grass Fed Collagen containing both type 1 and 3 if you're looking to support your bones and joints.

If you're looking for type 2 collagen specifically, this is now available through our Free Range Chicken Bone Broth, which is a separate product from our Grass Fed Collagen range.